TNT repeated its dominance of J&T Express to claim the final leg of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) 3×3 First Conference Season 2 Sunday at the Robinsons Antipolo Extension.
Almond Vosotros validated why he’s the tournament’s scoring leader after finishing with 12 points, including the two free throws with three seconds left that clinched the Leg 6 crown, 21-17, and the P100,00 prize money for the Tropang Giga.
It was the second straight leg championship for the 3×3 team of the TNT franchise and third overall in the conference, making the Tropang Giga the heavy favorites heading to the grand finals set on October 30 at Robinsons Novaliches.
Samboy De Leon added four, while Lervin Flores and Ping Exciminiano round out the scoring for the team, which appeared ready to wrap things up when it led 14-9 with 3:16 left in the game.
But the Express battled their way back behind Joseph Sedurifa and Robert Datu to tie the count at 17 with less than a minute to go.
TNT though, scored the last four points as De Leon converted on a long two before Vosotros ended it all with those two marginal free throws.
In last week’s Leg 5 finals, Flores and Vosotros led the TNT charge in a 21-13 beating of the Express.
Sedurifa had eight points as the Express took P50,000 as they can’t seem to get over the hump in claiming their third runner up finish in the conference.
Bong Galanza fired 11 points in leading Cavitex to a third place finish over Meralco, 19-17. The win was worth P30,000 for the Braves.
TNT and J&T crossed paths anew by surviving separate tough opponents during the semifinals.
The Tropang Giga barely got past the Meralco Bolts in a grind out game, 14-13, even as the Express shot down the Cavitex Braves, 21-19.
Earlier at the start of the knockout phase, the Express breezed to a 21-12 win over Pioneer Elastoseal, while the Tropang Giga subdued Leg 4 champion San Miguel Beer, 21-17, as Vosotros erupted for 10 points.
Other quarterfinal results had Meralco dumping Barangay Ginebra, 18-15, and Cavitex knocking out Platinum Karaoke, 19-12.
In the classification stage, NorthPort kept Terrafirma winless in the conference, 21-18, same with Purefoods which fell to Blackwater, 21-9.